Electric regulation.



J. L. GREVELING.

ELECTRIC REGULATION.

APPLIOATIOI FILED [AF-.4, 1912.

1 ,082, 1 1 1 Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

WITNESSES INVENTOR STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. CREVELING, OI mil, N.'Y., ASSIGNOR TO SAFETY CAB HEATING AND LIGHTING comm, .l (XDRPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC" REGULATION Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

Applicationmed March 4, 1912. Serial No. 881,348.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. CREVELING, a resident of New York, in the county and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Regulation, as set forth in the annexed specification and drawing, forming a part thereof.

My invention pertains to that class of electric regulation wherein it is desired to automatically regulate a dynamo in a predetermined manner and has for a particular object to provide means whereby a dynamo driven at variable speeds may be automatically governed to properly charge a storage battery and operate lamps or other translating devices.

Figure 1 of thedrawing, is a diagrammatic representation of one type of system embodying the essentials of my invention. Fig. 2 is a modification of a portion of the system shown in Fig. 1. v

In the drawing, referring particularly to Fig. 1, 1 represents a dynamo or generator provided with the usual field coil 2, having in series therewith a regulating element 3, in this instance indicated as a resistance of the carbon pile variety. 4 represents one limb of a bell crank lever, the limb 5 of which is normally drawn in an upward direction as by the adjustable spring 6, in such manner as to tend to compress the carbon pile 3 and lower the resistance thereof. The limb 5 carries at its extremity a core of magnetic material 7 and thus, motion of the said core may be used to regulate the generator by varying the resistance 3. 8 represents the positive lead of the enerator which is connected with the pos tive terminal of the storage battery 9 and the positive terminals of lamps or other translating devices indicated at 10. The negative terminals of the translating devices are connected with the wire 11 which is in communication with one terminal of the automatic switch 13, having its opposite terminal connected as by the lead 14 with the negative pole of the generator 1. The negative side of the storage battery 9 is. connected with the wire 11 through the solenoid 12. 15 is a voltage solenoid in shunt across the generator or supply circuit through a resistance 16. From a point upon the resistance 16 which may be adjustable, the

Wire 17 is carried to the contact member'18, insulated from and carried by the lever 4 and normally in electrical communication with the contact member 19, also carried by the said lever and in communication with the wire 20 led to the opposite side of the resistance 16, in such manner that the contact 18 19 may serve to shunt out all or a portion of the resistance 16. 21 is one limb of a bell crank lever having the lever 22 carrying the core of ma netic material 23, surrounded by the solenoid 12 in such manner that the said solenoid when energized tends to depress the lever 22 against the action of adjustable spring 24, normally tending to hold the limb 21 in contact with the adjustable stop 25. 26 is an adjustable screw insulated from and carried by the limb 21, in such manner that when the core 23 is drawn downwardly the spring 26 may strike the member 19 and break the connection 18-19 and throw the resistance 16 in series with the coil 15 and also form a mechanical connection between the levers 21 and 4, in such manner that pull upon the core 23 tends to lessen the pressure upon the carbon pile 3 and increase the resistance thereof. 27 is an adjustable screw for limiting the motion of the spring 19.

Fig. 2, in which like numerals are used to indicate like parts, shows a modification of the contact arrangement 1819 in which a carbon pile 28 is included between the said contact members in such manner that the resistance 16 or a portion thereof is gradually inserted in series with the solenoid 15.

An operation of my invention is substantially as follows :-If the generator be started, current will flow through lead 8, resistance 3 and coil 2 and cause the generator to build up in a well-known manner. and if the speed be increased until the voltage of the generator is slightly in excess of that of the battery 9, the automatic switch 13 will close and current will flow from the generator through lead 8 to the translating devices 10 or storage batterv 9 and return through wire 11, switch 13 and lead 14 to the generator.

The switch 13 is preferably one of the automatic variety adapted to close the circuit when the electro-motive force of the generator is very slightly in excess of that of the battery and to open the said circuit when the electro-motive force of the generator is equal to or very slightly below that of the battery, and as many automatic switches to perform this function are well-known in the art and the particular type of switch forms no part of my present invention, the presence of one of the well-known types is merely indicated diagrammatically. During the above outlined operation of the generator, current will flow from the lead 8 around resistance 16 and solenoid 15 and tend to draw the core 7 downwardly and increase the resistance 3, and I so adjust the spring 6 that when the maximum voltage desired to have impressed across thestorage battery 9 is reached upon the supply circuit, any tendency to increase above this amount will cause the core 7 to be drawn downwardly and the resistance 3 increased in such manner as to cut down the field of the generator and hold this voltage from being exceeded. Thus, the battery and lamp circuit will be supplied at constant voltage by the generator throughout speed changes, and as the voltage of the battery rises, its charging current will taper off. When the battery is in a quite run down condition and its voltage low, the standard voltage to be held across the supply circuit might cause too great a charging current to be delivered to the battery, and I so adjust the spring 24 that when the maximum desired charging current is flowing through the coil 12 to the battery, any increase in current will cause the core 23 to be drawn downwardly and the screw 26 swung into contact with the member 19 so as to break the connection 1819 and throw the resistance 16 in series with the coil 15. This will weaken the solenoid 15 so that even the standard voltage across the supply circuit will not serve to increase the resistance 3 so as to hold the standard voltage constant and the work of operating the generator regulator to regulate the generator throughout speed changes will now fall upon the current responsive coil 12, which will prevent the generator from delivering too great a current to the storage battery 9. It, now for any reason the current in the coil 12 shall fall off or the voltage across the generator rise slightly in excess of the standard in such manner as to cause the pressure exerted by the screw 26 upon the member 19 to so lessen that the contact 18'19 will be reestablished, the regulation of the generator will again .be assumed-by the voltage coil 15 and the regulation of the system will. be voltage regulation, as distinguished from current regulation, and the battery will be charged at or below the maximum desired charging rate, excess above which is limited by the coil 12 and its cooperating mechanism through which it influences the resistance 3.

In that modification shown in Fig. 2, when incorporated in the system shown in Fig. 1, there is present a variable resistance 28 in series with the shunt around the resistance 16, and this variable resistance acts to gradually weaken the coil 15 as the coil 12 swings the lever 21 and screw 26 into such position as to assume control of the resistance3.

From the foregoing, it will be plain that I have produced a system wherein-a storage battery may be charged upon a constant potential circuit from a generator driven at variable speed, and the constant potential maintained upon the circuit throughout speed changes of the generator above the critical speed, and in case this standard voltagetends to deliver too great a charging current to the battery, the regulation of the generator is automatically shifted from a constant potential regulation to current regulation and the generator regulated so that a certain charging current will not be exceeded throughout speed changes of the generator. It will also be noted that if this current fall below a certain value, the regulation of the generator will again be shifted to voltage regulation, which will be maintained until. the standard voltage tends to cause an excess of current to the storage battery.

I do not wish in any way to limit myself to the exact details of construction nor to the exact mode of operation set forth in this specification to illustrate one type of system embodying the essentials of my invention, for it will be obvious that wide departure may be made in the way of details without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, which is as set forth in the following claims:

I claim:

1. The combination with a storage battery and a generator, of a regulator therefor, comprising operating means responsive to voltage fluctuations, operating means responsive to battery current fluctuations and means responsive to one of said operating means for determining which of said operating means shall regulate the generator.

2. The combination with a storage battery and a generator of a regulator therefor, comprising operating means responsive to voltage fluctuations, operating. means responsive to battery current fluctuations and means responsive to one of said operating means for determining which of said operating means shall predominate in the regulation of the generator.

3. The combination with a storage battery,

a generator and a re lating element for controlling the same, means for operating said element in response to voltage fluctuations, means for operating said element in response to battery current fluctuations and means whereby one of saidoperating means determines which of said operating means shall operate said element.

4.- The combination with a storage battery, a generator and a regulating element for controlling the same, of means for operating said element in response to voltage fluctuations, means for operating said element in response to battery current fluctuations and means whereby one of said operating means determines which of said operating means shall predominate in the operation of said element.

5. The combination with a storage battery and a generator, of means for affecting the operation thereof, means for controlling said affecting means responsive to voltage fluctuations, means for controlling said affecting means in response to battery current fluctuations and means responsive to the operation of one of the controlling means for determining which of said controlling means shall operate the affectin means.

6. The combination wit a storage battery and a generator, of means for affecting the operation thereof, means for controlling said affecting means responsive to voltage fluctuations, means for controlling said affecting 'means in response to battery current fluctuations and means responsive to the operation of' one of the controlling means for determining which of said controlling means shall predominate in the operation .of said affecting means.

7. The combination with a storage battery, agenerator and regulating means therefor, of means for affecting the regulating means in response to voltage fluctuations, and means for affecting the regulating means in response to current fluctuations, said aifectin" means including means whereby the afl ecting means cooperate in the regulation of the generator.

8. The combination with a storage battery, a generator and regulating means therefor, of means for affecting the regulating means in response to voltage fluctua- 'tions,and means for affecting the regulating means in response to battery current fluctuations, said affecting means including electricmeans whereby the affecting means cotiperate in the regulation of the generator.

9. The combination with a storage battery, a generator and regulating means therefor, of means for affecting the regulating means in response to voltage fluctuations, and means for affecting the'regulating means in response to current fluctuations, said affecting means including electromagnetic means whereby the affecting means cooperate in the regulation of the generator. T

10. The combination with a storage battery and a generator, of a regulating element affecting the same, means for affecting said regulating element in response to voltage fluctuations, means for affecting said regulating element in response to battery current fluctuations and means whereby the current responsive means affects the voltage responsive means.

11. The combination with a storage battery and a generator, of a regulating element affecting the same, means for'afi'ecting said regulating element in response to voltage fluctuations, means for affecting said regulating element in response to battery current fluctuations and means whereby the current. responsive means weakens the voltage responsive means.

12. The combination with a generator and a storage battery circuit, of a regulator for the generator comprehending operating means ,responsive to voltage fluctuations, operating means responsive to current fluctuations in the battery circuit and means affected by one of said operating means for determining which of said operating means shall regulate the generator.

13. The combination with a generator and a storage battery circuit, of a regulator for the generator comprehending operating means responsive to voltage fluctuations, operatin means responsive to current fluctuations in the battery circuit and means affected by one of said operating means for determining which of said operating means shall predominate in the regulation of the generator.

14:. The combination with a generator and a battery circuit supplied thereby, of a regulating element affecting the generator, means for affecting said element in response to voltage fluctuations, means for affecting said element in response tocurrent fluctuations in said circuit and means whereby operation of the responsive means determines which of said responsive means shall regulate the generator.

15. The comblnation with a generator and a battery circuit supplied thereby, of a regulating element affectin the generator, means for affecting said e ement in response to voltage fluctuations, means for affecting said element in response to current fluctuations in said circuit and means whereby operation of one of the responsive means determines which of said responsive means shall predominate in the regulation of the generator.

16. The combination with a storage battery, a generator and a regulating element therefor, of a voltage responsive coil affecttherefor, of a voltage responsive coil affecting said element, a battery current responsive coil affecting said element and means whereby the operation of one of said ooils 10 afi'ects the current in the other coil eompris mg a reslstance and means for dlverting current around said resistance.

JOHN L) GREVELING.

Witnesses:

ANNA M. WALL, ROSE A. GAFFNEY. 

